For Great Success Does One Have to Shun Being Polite?

in money •  6 years ago  (edited)

Recently I read research that described the results of a personality quiz taken by some of the greatest businessmen and leaders of our time. I'm talking Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Muhammad Yunus and many others.

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Concern For Others?

Of the names I listed above, two are known for building innovative tech companies and the other is known for strictly his philanthropist endeavors.

Muhammad Yunus has won the Nobel Peace Prize along with many other similar accolades. My point is - there were several others like him in this study for as many businessmen there were.

This is why the low concern for others trait that popped up is a bit surprising and a bit misleading.

Low Concern for Others

Nearly all of these impactful and successful people tested low on the section of the quiz that gauges "Concern for Others."

Here's the thing - it obviously wasn't that these great achievers did not care for others. More so it was the simple fact that in order to achieve these great goals they needed to always put them first.

Basically, when given the choice between achieving the goal or pleasing others, the goal would always be the choice.

In a way, it makes sense given all the day to day interactions we have with people and the sacrifices one must make to build something bigger than themselves.

It makes even more sense that due to that you have the view of someone like Jobs who was considered stern and cold at times, since in the end he likely always chose the greater goal over pleasing someone in the current moment.

Balancing Act

It certainly can be a balancing act to strive for greatness while still being polite day in and day out. In the end, is there really enough time to do both? It's a dance on a fine line for sure.

I can tell you one thing. I know I'm too polite for my own good and get caught up in the day to day emotions as opposed to keeping my eye on the larger prize.

Anyway, just something I found interesting I wanted to share.

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There is always a time to stand up for youself and say enough is enough, but at the same time, fairness, kindness and gentleness are virtues, and striving for victory over another person, intentionally, willingly, at the sacrifice of these virtues would in my view be to cut the limb on which you were standing.

You can't win, if you give up everything worth having in order to win.

I saw a report that a larger than average proportion top people in business are technically psychopaths; I dont mean that they go around with an axe murdering people, but that their empathy is low and much of their social interaction is studied/learned.

They certainly know what drives other people to do great work, and to work hard for them and give up their lives in the persuit of the goal, but they dont really care. So when its time to axe a 1,000 'headcount' (see they do weild some kinds of axes) they dont lose a wink of sleep over it.

I cant source the study for this, but I probably read it on the internet, so it must be true ;)

Cheers from a recovering corporate psychopath. LOL! (I totally agree. Hard as nails gets you through the layoffs. Desensitizing yourself is a survival tactic...ahem, a necessary-business-tactic.)

Yeah I've been there; thought I could leave my morals at the door in the morning, and pick them up on the way out, but it turns out I was fooling myself.

That makes sense to me.....on another level I also kid that sociopaths make the best investors and traders.

I really like your signature. If you don't mind I am going to make a similar one. Do you save as a jpg and just manually copy each time?

My logo/signature is a jpeg. I have that and the other stuff sitting in a notepad file and just copy the code into my post each time.

Greatness requires sacrifices. Everyone is different in what they end of sacrificing. What's crucial is after one achieves greatness, they help others do the same.

A kind and Brave heart make Great personalities.

That's the way of the jungle, nice guys better carry a big stick.